Airflow assisted ramp loading and unloading of sliders in hard disk drives

ABSTRACT

Windage proximate to a spinning disk within a disk drive is directed through a plurality of apertures in a ramp situated near the outside diameter of the disk. A tab extending from a load beam that supports a slider rests on the ramp when the drive is not in use. When the drive is started the disk begins to spin and an actuator moves the load beam to bring the slider over the surface of the disk. As the load beam moves, the tab is guided along the ramp and cushioned by the air flow emerging from apertures in the ramp beneath it. When the drive is stopped the actuator brings the load beam back so that the tab engages the ramp. A cushion of air is again provided as the tab is moved along the ramp as the tab is returned to a parked position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to magnetic disk data storagesystems, and more particularly to the use of a ramp to facilitate theloading and unloading of sliders.

[0002] Magnetic disk drives are used to store and retrieve data fordigital electronic apparatuses such as computers. In FIGS. 1A and 1B, amagnetic disk data storage system 10 of the prior art includes a sealedenclosure or housing 12, a spindle motor 14, a magnetic medium or disk16, supported for rotation by a drive spindle S1 of the spindle motor14, a voice-coil actuator 18 and a load beam 20 attached to an actuatorspindle S2 of voice-coil actuator 18. A slider support system consistsof a flexure 22 coupled at one end to the load beam 20, and at its otherend to a slider 24. The slider 24, also commonly referred to as a heador a read/write head, typically includes an inductive write element witha sensor read element.

[0003] As the motor 14 rotates the magnetic disk 16, as indicated by thearrow R, an air bearing is formed under the slider 24 allowing it to“fly” above the magnetic disk 16. Discrete units of magnetic data, knownas “bits,” are typically arranged sequentially in multiple concentricrings, or “tracks,” on the surface of the magnetic disk 16. Data can bewritten to and/or read from essentially any portion of the magnetic disk16 as the voice-coil actuator 18 causes the slider 24 to pivot in ashort arc, as indicated by the arrows P, over the surface of thespinning magnetic disk 16. The design and manufacture of magnetic diskdata storage systems is well known to those skilled in the art.

[0004] Reducing the distance between the slider 24 and the spinning disk16, commonly known as the “fly height,” is desirable in magnetic diskdrive systems 10 as bringing the magnetic medium closer to the inductivewrite element and sensor read element improves signal strength andallows for increased areal densities. However, as the fly height ispushed to lower values, the effects of contamination at the head-diskinterface become more pronounced. Specifically, debris may be collectedover time on the air bearing surface of the slider 24 and which mayultimately cause the slider 24 to crash into the magnetic disk 16causing the disk drive system 10 to fail. Consequently, reducingcontamination within the sealed enclosure 12 is a continuing prioritywithin the disk drive industry.

[0005] One strategy that has been used to reduce the debris thatcollects on slider 24 is to focus on the tribology at the head-diskinterface to reduce the amount of contact between the slider 24 and thedisk 16 when the system 10 is started and stopped. Traditionally, when asystem 10 was shut down the slider 24 was parked on a track at the innerdiameter (ID) of the disk 16 commonly known as a landing zone. There theslider 24 would rest in contact with the surface of the disk 16 untilthe disk was spun again, at which point the air bearing would form andthe slider 24 would lift back off of the surface. Unfortunately, thefriction and wear that occurred in these systems at the head-diskinterface, even with improved lubricants, created unacceptable amountsof debris on the slider 24 to allow for still lower fly heights. Inorder to reduce friction and wear at the head-disk interface so as toreduce debris accumulation, the landing zone was improved by making ittextured, often with a pattern of bumps, in order to reduce the contactarea between the slider 24 and the disk 16, among other reasons.

[0006] Textured landing zones proved effective to a point, however theneed to fly the slider 24 still lower, with the inevitable need toreduce contamination further, lead to the development of techniqueswhereby the slider 24 is held off of the surface of the disk 16 when notin use. Such techniques seek to avoid any contact between the slider 24and disk 16 at all. However, simply lifting the slider 24 higher off ofthe surface of the disk 16 is not sufficient because a system 10 in aportable computer system is subject to shock that can cause the slider24 to slap into the disk 16. Therefore, a technique used in the priorart to securely park the slider 24 away from the surface of the disk 16,as shown in FIG. 2, is to employ a small ramp 30 placed proximate to theouter diameter (OD) of the disk 16 and a tab 32 attached to the slider24. As the voice-coil actuator 18 causes the slider 24 to move towardthe extreme OD the tab 32 rides up on the ramp 30 and lifts the slider24 away from the surface. The slider 24 is pushed still further alongthe ramp 30 past the OD of the disk 16 to be parked on a flat orslightly indented portion on the ramp 30.

[0007]FIGS. 3 and 4 serve to better illustrate the relationships betweenthe components of ramp systems of the prior art. FIG. 3 shows anelevational view, taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2, of a slider 24 ofthe prior art suspended beneath a load beam 20 by a flexure 22. Attachedto the end of the load beam 20 is a tab 32 intended to move in slidingcontact with a ramp 30 for loading and unloading the slider 24. Althoughshown as attached to the end of the load beam 20, it should be notedthat the tab 32 is typically formed as an integral part of the load beam20.

[0008]FIG. 4 shows an elevational view, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.2, of the ramp 30 relative to the tab 32, read slider 24, and the disk16, when the slider 24 is flying and the tab 32 is disengaged from theramp 30. For clarity, the load beam 20 and the flexure 22 are not shown.The tab 32 has a rounded bottom surface to reduce the contact area withthe ramp 30 when the two are in sliding contact. Arrows in FIG. 4indicate the directions of motion of the load beam 20 for both loadingand unloading.

[0009] One problem with a ramp 30 of this design is that the tab 32 isin sliding contact with the ramp 30 each time the system 10 is startedor stopped. The sliding contact produces wear contamination that can betransferred to the disk 16 to be picked up by the air bearing surface ofthe slider 24. The wear may be reduced by shaping the tab 32 so that thesurface that contacts the ramp 30 is convex and by employing alubricant. Although the amount of wear debris formed in this way is lesssignificant compared to that which is generated with textured landingzones, nevertheless it may interfere with the aerodynamics of the slider24 at very low fly heights and lead to crashes.

[0010] Another problem encountered with ramps 30 is that the slider 24is not entirely parallel to the surface of the disk 16. Rather, theleading edge of the slider 24, the one facing into the direction of therotation of the disk 16, is higher than the trailing edge of the slider24 to provide lift. Viewed another way, the pitch on the slider 24causes the trailing edge to be closer to the surface. Similarly, sincethe air flow under the side of the slider 24 nearest the OD is alwaysgreater than under the side nearest the ID, the slider 24 may have someroll such that the ID edge of the slider is lower than the OD edge.Consequently, the corner of the slider 24 on the ID side of the trailingedge is commonly closest to the surface. As a slider 24 is loaded over adisk 16 the tab 32 slides down the ramp 30 until the lift experienced bythe slider 24 is sufficient to cause the slider to fly.

[0011] What is desired, therefore, is a way to park the slider 24 on aramp 30 while minimizing as much as possible the wear between the tab 32and the ramp 30. It is further desired to provide a smoother transitionduring loading and unloading.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention provides for a ramp to assist the loadingand unloading of a slider in a magnetic disk drive. The ramp comprises abody having a first surface and a second surface and a plurality ofapertures extending between them, where each aperture has a firstopening at the first surface and a second opening at the second surface.The first surface of the ramp further comprises a sloped segment and astraight segment, with the sloped segment being acutely angled withrespect to the second surface. The ramp of the present invention directsa portion of a flow of air proximate to a spinning disk through theapertures in order to lift and cushion a tab attached to a load beamfrom which a slider is also suspended.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the air flowemerging through the first openings is sufficient to suspend the tababove the surface of the ramp. By maintaining an air bearing between thetab and the ramp while the slider is loaded and unloaded, wear andcontamination from sliding contact can be greatly reduced. Anotheradvantage realized by the present invention is that an air bearing cansmooth the transition both as the tab leaves the ramp during loading ofthe slider, and as the tab re-engages the ramp during unloading.

[0014] In other embodiments the air flow emerging through the firstopenings is not sufficient to hold the tab completely off of the surfaceof the ramp. In still other embodiments the air flow emerging throughthe first openings is sufficient to hold the tab completely off of thesurface of the ramp only over some length of the ramp such as the slopedsegment. These embodiments still provide an advantage over the prior artin that any lift at all that is provided to the tab will tend to reducethe contact force between the ramp and the tab. Any reduction in thecontact force will further tend to reduce wear and contamination fromsliding contact. The lift provided to the tab in these embodiments,although not enough to suspend it completely off of the surface of theramp, nevertheless can also smooth the transitions as the tab engagesand disengages from the ramp.

[0015] Further embodiments of the ramp are directed at variations of thesecond surface. The second surface may be flat, but in some embodimentsthe second surface is non-planar and shaped to better urge a flow of airproximate to the surface of the disk into the plurality of apertures.For example, the second surface may be concave or may be provided withan aerodynamic shape. Shaping the second surface is advantageous to thepresent invention in that it provides a greater air flow into theplurality of apertures thus providing a greater lifting force against atab situated above the first surface.

[0016] Still other embodiments are directed towards the aperturesthemselves. Each aperture has a first and second opening and in someembodiments their cross-sectional areas are substantially equal. Inother embodiments the cross-sectional area of the first opening is lessthan the cross-sectional area of the second opening. In furtherembodiments the apertures are substantially straight, while in othersthey take complex paths through the body of the ramp. For example, anaperture may have an S-shape. Yet other embodiments are directed towardsapertures that intersect the second surface at an angle to a tangent ofthe second surface at the location of the aperture's second opening.Still more embodiments are directed to apertures that branch within thebody of the ramp such that a second opening may connect to more than onefirst opening. Yet other embodiments are directed to apertures havingnozzles formed at their first openings. Finally, some embodiments aredirected to the cross-sectional shapes of the first and second openingsand to the arrangements of the openings on the first and secondsurfaces.

[0017] The embodiments directed at different aperture configurations areadvantageous in that they allow an air flow to be collected in a firstlocation, say over the OD of the disk, to be redirected to a secondlocation that is not directly over the first location, such as thestraight segment of the ramp. These embodiments also allow the air flowout of the apertures to be shaped and otherwise manipulated, for exampleby providing nozzles to increase the speed of the air flow. Suchvariations provide greater lift to a tab over some regions of the rampthan over other regions. A properly shaped aperture can reduceturbulence and thus reduce resistance to the flow of air.

[0018] More embodiments are directed at ramp systems for loading andunloading at least two sliders. Such an embodiment comprises a bodyhaving a first portion and a second portion where each portion is a rampas described above, and the first portion is proximate to a firstsurface of a disk and the second portion is proximate to a secondsurface of the disk. The two portions, taken together, provide the bodyof the ramp system. The ramp system can be positioned around the OD ofthe disk. This design is desirable as disk drives typically areconfigured to be able to utilize both surfaces of a magnetic disk byemploying a separate slider for each.

[0019] Further embodiments are directed to disk drives for storing andretrieving magnetic data comprising a housing containing a rotatablemagnetic disk, an actuator configured to pivot a load beam proximate toa surface of the disk, a slider and a tab each attached to the loadbeam, the tab extending the load beam in a first direction, and a rampas described above. The ramp is situated such that the tab engages asloped segment of the ramp as the load beam is pivoted to an outsidediameter of the surface of the disk. Additional embodiments of the diskdrive are directed to variations of the tab, and specifically to thesurface of the tab that faces the ramp. This surface may have anon-planar component, for example, it can be concave or have anaerodynamic shape to help it glide on the air bearing. Shaping thesurface of the tab can be an advantage in that it allows the tab toexperience a greater lifting force from the air flow provided by theapertures beneath it.

[0020] Lastly, embodiments are directed to methods for loading andunloading a slider. Both methods include providing a rotatable magneticdisk disposed within a housing, providing an actuator disposed withinthe housing and configured to pivot a load beam proximate to a surfaceof the disk, providing a slider and a tab attached to the load beamwherein the tab extends the load beam in a first direction, andproviding a ramp as described above. The method of loading the sliderfurther includes rotating the magnetic disk to provide an air flowthrough the plurality of apertures, pivoting the load beam while the airflow through the apertures provides a lifting force to the tab as itmoves with respect to the ramp from a straight segment to a slopedsegment, and finally flying the slider such that the tab disengages fromthe ramp.

[0021] The method of unloading the slider further includes flying theslider over the disk, pivoting the load beam such that the tab engages asloped segment of the ramp as the load beam is pivoted to an outsidediameter of the disk, moving the tab over the sloped segment and ontothe straight segment of the ramp, and reducing the rotation of the diskto reduce the flow of air through the apertures to allow the tab to besupported on the straight segment of the ramp. Further embodiments ofboth methods include supporting the tab on an air bearing while it ismoving relative to the ramp. Other embodiments of both methods aredirected to providing an amount of lift to the tab that is notsufficient to raise the tab off of the ramp, but is sufficient to lowerthe contact force between the tab and the ramp.

[0022] These and other advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the followingdescriptions of the invention and a study of the several figures of thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The present invention will be readily understood by the followingdetailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, withlike reference numerals designating like elements.

[0024]FIG. 1A is a partial cross-sectional elevation view of a magneticdata storage system of the prior art;

[0025]FIG. 1B is a top plan view of the magnetic data storage systemtaken along line 1B-1B of FIG. 1A;

[0026]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a magnetic data storage systemequipped with a ramp and a tab of the prior art;

[0027]FIG. 3 is an elevational view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2

[0028]FIG. 4 is an elevational view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

[0029]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a ramp of the present invention;

[0030]FIG. 6A is a partially broken view of the ramp of FIG. 5;

[0031]FIG. 6B is an elevational view of a cross-section of a portion ofa ramp provided with an aperture;

[0032]FIG. 7 is a cross-section of an alternative embodiment of a rampshowing a branching of apertures;

[0033]FIG. 8A is a cross-section of a ramp system of the presentinvention for one disk;

[0034]FIG. 8B is a cross-section of a ramp system of the presentinvention for a disk stack;

[0035]FIG. 9 is a plan view of the ramp showing various first openingshapes and arrangements;

[0036]FIG. 10A is a cross-section of an alternative embodiment of theramp of the present invention;

[0037]FIGS. 10B and 10C are side elevational views of alternativeembodiments of the ramp of the present invention;

[0038]FIG. 10D shows an elevational view of the ramp situated above thedisk to show how the second surface may be shaped along the minor axisof the ramp;

[0039]FIG. 11 shows a cross-section of the tab of the present inventiondisposed over the ramp;

[0040]FIG. 12 shows a flow diagram for the method of loading the slider;and

[0041]FIG. 13 shows a flow diagram of for the method of unloading theslider.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042]FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2-4 were discussed above with reference to theprior art.

[0043]FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the ramp 40 of the presentinvention. The ramp 40 comprises a body 42 having a first surface 44 anda second surface 46 and a plurality of apertures 48 extending betweenthe two. The body 42 is preferably formed of a plastic, such as Teflon,or plastic-like material selected for having very low levels ofoutgassing of volatile organic compounds and very low levels of particleshedding. The body 42 should also be formed of a material that isresistant to wear and that can be readily machined or otherwise formed.In some embodiments ceramic materials or metallic materials can be usedto form the body 42. Further embodiments include surface treatments,lubricants, and specially formed solid surface layers to provideadditional wear resistance to first surface 44.

[0044] The first surface 44 is further divided into two sections, astraight segment 50 and a sloped segment 52, the sloped segment 52 beingacutely angled with respect to the second surface 46. The straightsegment 50 is a location where a tab 32 rests when a slider 24 isparked. Although shown as flat in FIG. 5, the straight segment 50 inother embodiments can be provided with a notch, a step, or a depression,for example, to more securely hold the tab 32 when the slider 24 is atrest. Such designs are well known in the art. The sloped segment 52provides a transition region to guide the slider 24 towards the surfaceof the disk 16 during loading, and to gently bring the slider 24 awayfrom the surface of the disk 16 when unloading. While the sloped segment52 is shown in FIG. 5 as being a flat section acutely angled withrespect to the second surface 46, the sloped segment 52 take morecomplex forms in other embodiments. For example, the sloped segment 52can be contoured so that towards one end it smoothly transitions intothe straight segment 50 and on the other end it is flared to be morenearly parallel to the plane defined by the surface of the disk 16.

[0045] The ramp 40 is situated such that it partially overhangs the ODof the disk 16. As the disk 16 rotates, a layer of air proximate to thesurface of the disk 16 is swept along with it. This flow of air iscommonly known as windage. The air flow near the OD of the disk 16 iscomplex and will be affected in the vicinity of the ramp 40 both by theramp 40 itself and by the presence of the nearby slider 24 and load beam20. In general, however, the air flow near the OD has both radial andcircumferential components, moving both towards the OD of the disk 16and in the direction of the rotation of the disk 16. The second surface46 can be shaped in order to better capture some of the air flowunderneath the ramp 40. An advantageous shape of the second surface 46can direct a greater portion of the air flow near the OD of the disk 16into the plurality of apertures 48 so that more air will emerge throughthe first surface 44 as shown by the arrows in FIG. 5.

[0046]FIG. 6A shows a partially broken view of the ramp 40 taken alongthe line 6-6 of FIG. 5 to illustrate various embodiments of apertures48. In one embodiment, an aperture 48′ has a first opening 54′ at thefirst surface 44 and a second opening 56′ at the second surface 46. Forthis aperture 48′ the cross-sectional areas of the first opening 54′ andthe second opening 56′ are substantially equal and the aperture 48′between them is substantially straight and perpendicular to the secondsurface 46. Aperture 48′ represents the simplest type of aperture 48 andshould be the easiest to manufacture, for example, by laser drilling.

[0047] Aperture 48″ shows a more complex aperture 48. Aperture 48″differs from aperture 48′ in four ways: the cross-sectional area of thefirst opening 54″ is less than the cross-sectional area of the secondopening 56″, the aperture 48″ is neither straight nor perpendicular tothe second surface 46, and the first opening 54″ includes a nozzleregion 55. Of course, other embodiments may be more complex thanaperture 48′ while less complex than aperture 48″. For example, oneembodiment of aperture 48 might be straight with a cross-sectional areaof the first opening 54 less than the cross-sectional area of the secondopening 56 and not include a nozzle 55.

[0048] Non-linear apertures 48 can be used to bring an air flow from asecond opening 56 situated over the surface of the disk 16 to a firstopening 54 on the first surface 44 that is substantially distant fromthe OD of the disk 16. In order to provide a flow of air to the straightsegment 50, for example, it may be necessary to direct the flow of airfrom second openings 56, located proximate to the OD of the disk 16,through a plurality of apertures 48 and to first openings 54 located onthe straight segment 50. Aperture 48″ in FIG. 6A illustrates thisconfiguration. Aperture 48″ also illustrates a nozzle region 55 that isshaped to increase the speed of the air as it exits through the firstopening 54″.

[0049]FIG. 6B is an elevational view of a cross-section of a portion ofa ramp provided with an aperture 48 that intersects the second surface46 at an angle α to a tangent T of the second surface 46 at the locationof the second opening 56. In some embodiments it is desirable to anglethe apertures 48 at the second surface 46 to take advantage of an airflow that impinges on the second surface 46 at or near the angle α tothe tangent T of the second surface 46.

[0050] Other embodiments of apertures 48 involve branching. For example,the second opening 56 can connect to a plurality of first openings 54.FIG. 7 illustrates two of many possible ways in which such branching canoccur. In one embodiment, several apertures 48 lead away from one secondopening 56. In another embodiment, a single aperture 48 splits into twoapertures 48, one of which splits again into two more apertures 48. Inboth illustrated embodiments three first openings 54 connect to onesecond opening 56, however in other embodiments two first openings 54connect to one second opening 56 and in still other embodiments morethan three first openings 54 connect to one second opening 56. Yet otherembodiments are directed to a ramp 40 where the plurality of apertures48 includes a selection from amongst the various types of apertures 48described above. Computer modeling, such as by computational fluidmechanics and computational structural mechanics, can be employed todetermine optimal numbers, arrangements, shapings and sizes of theapertures 48, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0051]FIG. 8A shows a cross-section of a ramp system 70 of the presentinvention that allows for the simultaneous loading and unloading of twosliders 24 on one disk 16. The ramp system 70 includes a body having afirst portion 72 and a second portion 74, each portion 72 and 74including a first surface 44, a second surface 46, and a plurality ofapertures 48 extending between them. The first portion 72 is proximateto a first surface 73 of the disk 16 and the second portion 74 isproximate to a second surface 75 of the disk 16. Each portion 72 and 74is essentially an independent ramp 40. Since most disk drive systems 10employ disks 16 having magnetic layers on both surfaces 73 and 75 theyalso include two sliders 24 attached to independent load beams 20operated by a single actuator 18. A ramp system 70 allows the sliders 24on both sides of the disk 16 to be loaded and unloaded with all of theadvantages of the present invention. In disk drive systems 10 havingmore than one disk 16, frequently referred to as a disk stack, the rampsystem 70 can be built to provide a ramp 40 for each surface 73 and 75of each disk 16 as shown in FIG. 8B.

[0052] A further benefit of a ramp system 70 is that second surface 46can be contiguous with the two portions 72 and 74. Since much of thewindage moves in a radial direction as shown in FIG. 8A, the U-shapedportion of the second surface 46 will tend to block the flow of air anddirect it instead into the plurality of apertures 48 in the first andsecond portions 72 and 74. It should be noted that although shown asU-shaped, this portion can take other forms as well such as asquared-off shape or a V-shape.

[0053]FIG. 9 shows a plan view of a ramp 40 to illustrate that firstopenings 54 may have various shapes. These shapes may reflect thecross-sectional shapes of the apertures 48 extending into the ramp 40,or they may be formed only at the first surface 44. Such shapes include,but are not limited to, circles, squares and diamonds, ovals or ellipseshaving different ratios of major to minor axes, commas, and hexagons.Hexagons, for example, are preferably arranged to form a honeycombstructure. The apertures 48 can be arranged in a lattice, such asillustrated by the hexagonal arrangement of the hexagons in FIG. 9, orthey can be arranged in concentric circles as shown on the slopedsegment 52, or arranged such that the density of first openings 54 isgreatest along the center line of the first surface 44. Many otherarrangements are also possible. Similarly, second openings 56 on thesecond surface 46 can also take any of these shapes or arrangements.

[0054]FIGS. 10A-10C show ramp embodiments 40 having second surfaces 46that are specially shaped to direct air into second openings 56. InFIGS. 10A and 10B the second surface 46 is essentially concave. In FIG.10A the second surface is further made wavy, grooved, or corrugated sothat second openings 56 can be angled to face into the air flow asshown. FIG. 10B shows a second surface 46 that curves below the level ofthe edge of the disk 16 to better collect the air flow coming off of thedisk 16 and urge it into second openings 56. FIG. 10C shows a moreaerodynamically shaped second surface 46 that extends downward over thedisk 16 to narrow the gap between the ramp 40 and the disk 16 toincrease the speed of the air flow through this gap.

[0055]FIG. 10D shows an elevational view of a ramp embodiment 40 as seenfrom a point located over the center of the disk 16. This perspectiveshows that the second surface 46 can be shaped along a minor axis of theramp 40 as well as along a major axis of the ramp 40 as shown in FIGS.10A-10C. In FIG. 10D the shaping of the second surface 46 along theminor axis of the ramp 40 is concave. However, in other embodiments thesecond surface 46 can be flat or convex along the minor axis. In stillother embodiments the second surface has grooves or channels set alongthe minor axis, with such grooves or channels extending substantially inthe direction of the major axis of the ramp 40. Computer modeling, suchas by computational fluid mechanics and computational structuralmechanics, can be employed to design the shape of the second surface 46for a given air flow around the disk 16, as will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art. Also shown in FIG. 10D is that the straight segment50 and the sloped segment 52 can be made convex rather than flat tofurther reduce the contact area between the tab 32 and the ramp 40 ifever they should touch.

[0056]FIG. 11 shows a cross-section of a tab 80 positioned over thestraight segment 50 of a ramp 40. Tab 80 varies from tab 32 of the priorart shown in FIG. 4 in that tab 80 has a shape designed to takeadvantage of the flow of air out of first openings 54 to generate lift.The shape of tab 80 in FIG. 11 is essentially concave on the surface 82that faces the ramp 40. Just as with the second surface 46 of the ramp40, the surface 82 of the tab 80 can be shaped along one or two axes.Hence, the concavity shown in FIG. 11 may represent either a sectionthrough a cylinder, a section through a hemispherical cap, or a sectionthrough a surface that is partially cylindrical and partiallyhemispherical. A cylindrical shape to the surface 82 would produce twolines of contact with the first surface 44 when the tab 80 is touchingthe ramp 40. A hemispherical shape to the surface 82 would produce acircular line of contact with the first surface 44 when the tab 80 istouching the ramp 40. Where the first surface 44 is convex, such asshown in FIG. 10D, either a cylindrical shape or a hemispherical shapeto surface 82 would produce simply two points of contact with the firstsurface 44 when the tab 80 is touching the ramp 40.

[0057] Tab 80 is preferably formed of a plastic, such as Teflon,selected for having very low levels of outgassing of volatile organiccompounds and very low levels of particle shedding. The tab 80 shouldalso be formed of a material that is resistant to wear and that can bereadily machined or otherwise formed. In some embodiments ceramicmaterials or metallic materials can be used to form the tab 80. Furtherembodiments include surface treatments or specially formed solid surfacelayers to provide additional wear resistance to the surface 82. Tab 80can be made thin to minimize mass, as the air flow coming out of firstopenings 54 is intended to lift the tab 80 off of the first surface 44of the ramp 40. Minimizing mass to make lifting the tab 80 easier alsosuggests forming the tab 80 from a low-density material. Additionally,the tab 80 can be made wider in a direction parallel to the long axis ofthe ramp 40, compared with tabs 32 of the prior art, in order to besituated over a greater number of first openings 54 at any given moment.

[0058]FIG. 12 shows a flow chart illustrating the process 100 forloading a slider 24 according to the present invention. The process 100includes the act or operation 102 of providing a magnetic disk 16 withina housing 12, the act or operation 104 of providing an actuator 18 and aload beam 20, where the actuator 18 is configured to pivot the load beam20 proximate to the surface of the disk 16, the act or operation 106 ofproviding a slider 24 attached to the load beam 20, the act or operation108 of providing a tab 80 attached to the load beam that extends theload beam in a first direction, and the act or operation 110 ofproviding a ramp of the present invention. The process 100 furtherincludes the act or operation 112 of rotating the disk 16, the act oroperation 114 of pivoting the load beam 20, and the act or operation 116of flying the slider 24.

[0059] Acts or operations 102, 104, and 106 are all well known in theprior art. Act or operation 108 involves providing a tab 80 attached tothe load beam 20. While a tab 80 of the present invention is preferable,it should be noted that a tab 32 of the prior art can also be used. Itshould also be pointed out that in preferred embodiments the tab 80 or32 will be integral to the load beam 20 rather than a separate piecethat has been joined to the load beam 20. The tab 80 is intended toextend the load beam 20 in a first direction, where the first directionis defined as the long axis of the load beam 20. Extending the load beam20 in a first direction with a tab 32 that is integral to the load beam20 is also well known in the prior art and is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Itshould also be noted that although the tab 32 in FIG. 3 is shown asprojecting out from the top surface of the load beam 20, the tab 32 or atab 80 can also be extended from the end of the load beam 20, orextended from the flexure 22. The tab 80 needs to extend sufficientlybeyond the end of the load beam 20 so that when the tab 80 engages theramp 40 neither the flexure 22 nor the slider 24 contacts the ramp 40.

[0060] In act or operation 110 a ramp 40 of the present invention isprovided. The ramp 40 should be positioned such that as the actuator 18pivots the load beam 20 towards the OD of the disk 16 the tab 80 engagesthe ramp 40. The ramp 40 should be rigidly attached to the housing 12,or to another component within the system 10 that itself is rigidlyattached to the housing 12, so that the ramp 40 can be securelypositioned proximate to a surface of the disk 16 at the OD. The ramp 40should be proximate to the surface of the disk 16, but not so close thata sudden jolt or shock could cause the ramp 40 to contact the disk 16.In act or operation 110 the ramp should be further positioned so thatthe tab 80 is in contact with the straight segment 50 of the firstsurface 44.

[0061] Act or operation 112 involves rotating the disk 16 in order toprovide a flow of air through the plurality of apertures 48. Since theamount of air flowing through the plurality of apertures 48 isproportional to the speed of the disk 16, and the lifting force felt bythe tab 80 is proportional to the amount of air flowing through theapertures 48, it is therefore desirable to spin the disk 16 to itsoperating rotational rate, or nearly so, in act or operation 112. At aminimum, however, the disk 16 should be spinning at least as fast as isrequired to fly the slider 24. Preferably, the air flow through theplurality of apertures 48 in act or operation 112 is sufficient to liftthe tab 80 completely off of the straight segment 50 of the ramp 40.However, even if the air flow is not sufficient to lift the tab 80completely off of the straight segment 50, any air flow at all willprovide some benefit by reducing the contact force between the tab 80and the ramp 40, thus reducing the rate with which contamination isgenerated through wear.

[0062] Act or operation 114 involves pivoting the load beam 20,including the tab 80 and the slider 24 attached thereto, so that the tab80 moves from a straight segment 50 of the ramp 40 to a sloped segment52 of the ramp 40. Ideally, the tab 80 should be supported on an airbearing provided by the air flow through the plurality of apertures 48as the load beam 20 is pivoted by the actuator 18. In some embodiments,however, the air flow is only sufficient to lift the tab 80 off of theramp 40 over a limited portion of the range of motion in act oroperation 114, and in still other embodiments the tab remains in slidingcontact through the entire act or operation.

[0063] Act or operation 116 involves flying the slider 24 over thesurface of the disk 16 so that the tab 80 disengages from the ramp 40.More specifically, as actuator 18 pivots the load beam 20 in thedirection of the ID of the disk 16, the tab 80 follows the contour ofthe ramp 40 as it moves along the sloped segment 52. As the tab 80 nearsthe end of the sloped segment 52 the slider 24 comes ever closer to thesurface of the disk 16 and encounters an ever increasing flow of airproximate to the surface of the disk 16. This flow of air provides liftto the slider 24. The lift felt by the slider 24 is transferred to theflexure 22, the load beam 20, and ultimately to the tab 80.

[0064] In the prior art, the lift transferred to the tab 32 had to besufficient to overcome attractive forces tending to hold the tab 32against the surface of the ramp 30 before the tab 32 would disengagefrom the ramp 30. However, in act or operation 116 of the presentinvention the tab 80 is supported off of the first surface 44 by acushion of air so that the attractive forces between the ramp 40 and thetab 80 are minimized or eliminated. Consequently, unlike the prior art,in a preferred embodiment of process 100 there is not a sharp transitionat the moment when the tab 80 separates from the ramp 40. Instead, inact or operation 116 the transition as the tab 80 disengages the ramp 40is smooth and gradual as the slider 24 gains the necessary lift to flyover the surface of the disk 16. In embodiments of act or operation 114in which the tab 80 is in sliding contact with the ramp 40 at the timeact or operation 116 begins, the transition in act or operation 116 maybe abrupt as in the prior art. However, the lift provided to the tab 80,even if insufficient to raise the tab 80 off of the ramp 40 prior to theend of act or operation 114, can still reduce the magnitude of the joltexperienced by the slider 24 as the tab 80 disengages in act oroperation 116.

[0065]FIG. 13 shows a flow chart illustrating the process 120 forunloading a slider 24 according to the present invention. The process120 includes the act or operation 122 of providing a spinning magneticdisk 16 within a housing 12, the act or operation 124 of providing anactuator 18 and a load beam 20, where the actuator 18 is configured topivot the load beam 20 proximate to the surface of the disk 16, the actor operation 126 of providing a slider 24 attached to the load beam 20that is flying over the surface of the disk 16, the act or operation 128of providing a tab 80 attached to the load beam that extends the loadbeam in a first direction, and the act or operation 130 of providing aramp of the present invention such that the rotating disk 16 provides aflow of air through the plurality of apertures 48. The process 100further includes the act or operation 132 of pivoting the load beam 20to engage tab 80 with ramp 40, the act or operation 134 of moving thetab 80 along the ramp 40, and the act or operation 136 of reducing therotation rate of the disk 16.

[0066] Acts or operations 122, 124, and 126 are all well known in theprior art. Act or operation 128 involves providing a tab 80 attached tothe load beam 20 and is essentially the same as act or operation 108described above. In act or operation 130 a ramp 40 of the presentinvention is provided, where the rotating disk 16 provides a flow of airthrough the plurality of apertures. The ramp 40 should be positioned asdescribed in act or operation 110 except that the tab 80 will not beengaged with it.

[0067] Act or operation 132 involves pivoting the load beam 20,including the tab 80 and the slider 24 attached thereto, such that thetab 80 engages a sloped segment 52 of the ramp 40 as the load beam 20 isbrought to the OD of the disk 16. The flow of air through the apertures48 can serve to cushion the engagement, gently guiding the tab 80 ontothe sloped segment 52, in contrast to the prior art in which the tab 32simply collided with the ramp 30. It will be appreciated by one skilledin the art that gently guiding the tab 80 onto the sloped segment 52will tend to preserve the surface of the ramp 40 and reduce the amountof wear and contamination generated by engaging the tab 80 with the ramp40.

[0068] Act or operation 134 is directed to moving the tab 80 over thesloped segment 52 and then onto the straight segment 50 of the ramp 40.Ideally, the flow of air through the plurality of apertures 48 providesa lifting force to the tab 80 that is sufficient to keep the tab 80separated from the ramp 40 by an air bearing as the tab 80 moves acrosssloped segment 52 and onto straight segment 50. However, even if thelift provided to the tab 80 is insufficient to maintain a separationbetween the tab 80 and the ramp 40 during act or operation 134, it canstill reduce the magnitude of the contact force between them and therebyreduce wear and contamination.

[0069] Act or operation 136 involves reducing the rotation rate of thedisk 16, thereby reducing the flow of air through the plurality ofapertures 48 so that the lifting force experienced by the tab 80 isreduced. As the lifting force diminishes the tab 80 gently sets down onthe straight segment 50 of the ramp 40. Once the disk 16 slowssufficiently and the air flow through the plurality of apertures 48 hasstopped the slider 24 is said to be parked.

[0070] Although the foregoing invention has been described in somedetail for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparentthat certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scopeof the appended claims. Accordingly, the present embodiments are to beconsidered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is notto be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified withinthe scope and equivalents of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A ramp for the loading and unloading of a slider,comprising: a body having a first surface and a second surface and aplurality of apertures extending between said first and second surfaces,wherein each of said plurality of apertures has a first opening at saidfirst surface and a second opening at said second surface, wherein saidfirst surface has a sloped segment and a straight segment, said slopedsegment being acutely angled with respect to said second surface.
 2. Theramp of claim 1, wherein said second surface has a non-planar component.3. The ramp of claim 2, wherein said second surface has an aerodynamicshape to urge air flow into said plurality of apertures.
 4. The ramp ofclaim 2, wherein said second surface is concave.
 5. The ramp of claim 1,wherein cross-sectional areas of said first and second openings aresubstantially equal.
 6. The ramp of claim 1, wherein saidcross-sectional area of said first opening is less than saidcross-sectional area of said second opening.
 7. The ramp of claim 1,wherein at least one of said plurality of apertures intersects saidsecond surface at an angle to a tangent of said second surface at saidsecond opening.
 8. The ramp of claim 1, wherein at least one of saidplurality of apertures has a first opening within said straight segmentof said first surface.
 9. The ramp of claim 1, wherein at least one ofsaid plurality of apertures has a second opening that connects to morethan one first opening.
 10. A ramp system for loading and unloading twosliders, comprising: a body having a first portion and a second portion,each said portion including a first surface and a second surface and aplurality of apertures extending between said first and second surfaces,wherein each of said plurality of apertures has a first opening at saidfirst surface and a second opening at said second surface, wherein saidfirst surface has a sloped segment and a straight segment, said slopedsegment being acutely angled with respect to said second surface,wherein said first portion is proximate to a first surface of a disk andsaid second portion is proximate to a second surface of said disk.
 11. Adisk drive for storing and retrieving magnetic data, comprising: ahousing; a rotatable magnetic disk disposed within said housing; anactuator disposed within said housing and configured to pivot a loadbeam proximate to a surface of said magnetic disk; a slider attached tosaid load beam; a tab attached to said load beam, said tab extendingsaid load beam in a first direction; and a ramp including a body havinga first surface and a second surface and a plurality of aperturesextending between said first and second surfaces, wherein each of saidplurality of apertures has a first opening at said first surface and asecond opening at said second surface, said ramp situated such that saidtab engages a sloped segment of said ramp as said load beam is broughtto an outside diameter of said surface of said magnetic disk.
 12. Thedisk drive of claim 11, wherein said tab has a surface facing said ramp,said surface having a non-planar component.
 13. The disk drive of claim11, wherein said tab has a surface facing said ramp, said surface havingan aerodynamic shape to urge air flow into said plurality of apertures.14. The disk drive of claim 11, wherein said tab has a surface facingsaid ramp, said surface being concave.
 15. A method for loading aslider, comprising: providing a rotatable magnetic disk disposed withina housing; providing an actuator disposed within said housing andconfigured to pivot a load beam proximate to a surface of said magneticdisk; providing a slider attached to said load beam; providing a tabattached to said load beam, said tab extending said load beam in a firstdirection; providing a ramp including a body having a first surface anda second surface and a plurality of apertures extending between saidfirst and second surfaces, wherein each of said plurality of apertureshas a first opening at said first surface and a second opening at saidsecond surface, said ramp situated such that said tab engages a slopedsegment of said ramp as said load beam is brought to an outside diameterof said surface of said magnetic disk; rotating said magnetic diskthereby providing an air flow through said plurality of apertures;pivoting said load beam including said tab attached thereto, whereinsaid air flow through said plurality of apertures provides a liftingforce to said tab as it moves with respect to said ramp, said tab movingfrom a straight segment of said ramp to a sloped segment of said ramp;and flying said slider such that said tab disengages from said ramp. 16.The method of claim 15, wherein said lifting force is sufficient to liftsaid tab off of said ramp such that said tab is provided with an airbearing as it moves with respect to said ramp.
 17. A method forunloading a slider, comprising: providing a rotating magnetic diskdisposed within a housing; providing an actuator disposed within saidhousing and configured to pivot a load beam proximate to a surface ofsaid magnetic disk; providing a slider attached to said load beam, saidslider flying over said surface of said disk; providing a tab attachedto said load beam, said tab extending said load beam in a firstdirection; providing a ramp including a body having a first surface anda second surface and a plurality of apertures extending between saidfirst and second surfaces, wherein each of said plurality of apertureshas a first opening at said first surface and a second opening at saidsecond surface, wherein said rotating disk provides a flow of airthrough said plurality of apertures; pivoting said load beam includingsaid tab attached thereto, such that said tab engages a sloped segmentof said ramp as said load beam is brought to an outside diameter of saiddisk; moving said tab over said sloped segment of said ramp and ontosaid straight segment of said ramp, whereby said flow of air throughsaid plurality of apertures provides a lifting force to said tab; andreducing said rotation of said disk, thereby reducing the flow of airthrough said plurality of apertures so that said lifting force isreduced, such that said tab may be supported on said straight segment ofsaid ramp.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said lifting force whilesaid tab is moving relative to said ramp is sufficient to keep said taboff of said ramp so that said tab is provided with an air bearing as itmoves.